Pretty Much a Perfect Day

Upon reflection, I just realized I just had my perfect day. A balanced day. A happy day.  Note: Last week was underwhelming full of long demoralizing meetings and a generally crappy feeling in the air.

I skipped coffee yesterday or all weekend. It made the coffee I started sipping around lunch time really work.

I tucked myself in before 10pm last night. My sister called at 10:01 and I couldn't move to answer it.

Breakfast was steel-cut instant oats (from TJs) with chopped apple, some cinnamon, and a sprinkle of walnuts. So wholesome and filling and cozy-ish.

I had parent teacher conferences today. The two kids whose parents I met with are such gems.  My eyes watered when I talked about how delightful they are to teach. 

One conference was cancelled. So I took a walk. I walk for about 15 minutes up hill and then 10 minutes back...I keep my athletic shoes in the car and switch out of my work-lady shoes. It is so fun to look at all the beautiful houses and fantasize about what living in a house might be like someday. I love the Mediterranean landscape of Santa Barbara. I  love looking down at the sparkling sea. Ocean views almost make me feel like I'm at the beach. And, I'm addicted to sunshine.

I snuck out of work early enough to run a few errands (a price adjustment on a skirt from Banana Republic).  I happened upon the bustle of the downtown Farmers Market. I missed it last Sunday in my neighborhood. The colorful  dendrobium orchids were 2 bunches for 5 dollars. I'm in love! I feel so happily indulged when I buy myself flowers. And then I greedily bought lettuces, celery, carrots, kale, broccoli.  Everything was so pretty and fresh.

I went to yoga. My favorite and original yoga studio welcomed me back, even though I've been cheating on it with groupons to other places. Andrew always says, "You mean there is ANOTHER yoga studio?" Yaaay, California!  It was a level 2 class which was challenging but luckily still doable. The instructor is so sweet and she plays really great music. And I bumped into a co-worker I admire there. I barely get a chance to talk to her at work. She is so fit and committed and has a frankness about her that impresses me. I am determined to make this a habit (again).

I love driving home in my new car. Andrew installed a bluetooth radio that hooks up to my iPhone. So my phone conversations or audio books play through the stereo. So cool!

Dinner was a BLT: an open faced tomato, fake-bacon, lettuce sandwich and a huge salad with my new goodies...and an improvised tahini/mustard/yogurt/garlic dressing. Andrew and I polished off our refreshing dinner. I got in the bath while he drove down the block to pick up his latest goods from the pottery studio. Which I am now going to admire.

 I know everyone is reading them right now and probably already knows but I am loving a Game of Thrones. I refer to it as a fairy tale because in general the genre of science fiction is rather off-putting to me. It really is so good! Going to go snuggle with it right now...

P.S. Does this blog post look naked with no picture?

First Class

We got tickets home to Maui last December at the last minute. They had been incredibly expensive for a month so I was waiting for prices to drop. They didn't. At the last minute we found a ticket out of Santa Barbara (way more convenient than LAX) and while it was expensive, it was cheaper than any flight out of CA...we considered all major airports. 

After we purchased the tickets, we realized they were first class. What a fun surprise. Andrew and I counted our tickets as our holiday gift to each other. We were giddy kiddies. 

Another perk: You can check luggage for free--we brought one full of gifts for my family. 

Riding an airport shuttle. Feeling happy!

I promised to give the first class scoop. We were greeted with Mai Tais, you are given hot towels to clean up with, you get two windows, not one.  Real plates and a place mat. We newbies were ignorant about how to get the table out.

It was indeed a lot more comfortable. I didn't feel like drinking alchahol since it is already so dry in the plane.  But I had my share of mini-water bottles. They really like to check in on you and offer things. The people across from us were drinking White Russians and other fancy drinks every five minutes.

Overall, the best part of it was just having more breathing space. It was way less crowded...with less personalities stuffed into one tiny room.  I don't think it is worth the extra money (I love deals) but it was a great thing to experience.  It was a lot like a flight that is really uncrowded with lots of extra seats everywhere, and just that overall calmer feelings.

 
Welcome to the island of Maui....Hooray!
My dad was waiting on the other side of the gate.
So glad we went.

Lazing about Lahaina

My Auntie's pretty condo... We got a chance to play tourist for a day. Our one outing without the family.

Coffee Berry Tea.

I was inspired and made my own

from my dad's yard. Yum. Antioxidants!

Peaceful Sunset. Same Pacific Ocean.

Can you believe it? I say the ocean is my favorite thing,

but maybe it is the sky above the ocean.

Sir Wilfred's, the cigar and coffee joint of my youth, is now on Front Street.

My mom's artist friend Karen, featured herself in this piece, sitting on the bar.

This creative spirit, passed away over 10 years ago. Rainbow Kelly, aka "Uncle Bo"

also looks over us with his Santa Beard. He introduced my parents 30 years ago.

A radio personality with a hearty laugh. These were the characters from my childhood.

Both gone now, but I discovered them again on Front street, among celebrities, in this old painting.

My handsome boyfriend, I mean husband. I don't know when I will get used to saying HUSBAND.

Someday, I guess. He is my favorite date. We hung out under the giant banyan tree and listened to the

myna birds squawk.

Ma'alaea Beach, Maui

I have been taking thousands of pictures on my iphone. I love my iphone so much and am thrilled to always have a camera onhand. I haven't been processing these photos on my computer though, just filling up space. I've barely even looked at them. I might be a digital hoarder.

I took these on Christmas Eve, on my brief (and last minute!) trip home to Maui. I hadn't seen my family in a year. That was my main motivation... Maui's beauty is just the bonus.

Sugar beach.....a long stretch down. I always had the impression this was kind of a crappy beach. But I developed a new apprecitaton for this area. You can enjoy the beauty of West Maui without the drive.

Our chihuahuas approved as well. They walked two miles with us.

Starfish in the tidepoools. We also saw a puffer fish, hooked, dead and dried up on the beach.

Winter clouds make for playful lighting. I love that you can always drive to a sunnier spot on Maui.

Are you guys happy I started blogging again? I know consistancy is important....is anyone out there still? I will revive this blog--which turns five years old soon!

Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Park, Maui

Exploring in the country...

A Chinese Lion.

Sun Yat Sen Memorial park. Dedicated to the father of Modern China....

Seeing islands from the island.

Goodbye, Grandpa

My grandpa is gone. He passed away the day before I turned 30. We said goodbye to him formally Dec. 7, 2011 at Arlington National Cemetary. It is the end of an era. I feel so lucky that I knew him and loved him. He always liked us...he'd say, "You kids are neat." "Your just marrrvelous." He had a way with words. I visited my grandparents in DC last summer. Grandpa was ill, but he was still himself. I feel really lucky for this time.

It feels a little odd to take pictures at a memorial. I taught the day before, took a red eye, and then a cab straight to Arlington National Cemetary the next morning. I wanted to be present in spirit and not too carried away picture takings. But also, grief (and travel) can be numbing. I appreciate having pictures to reflect on later.

Arlington National Cemetery is a very moving place. Grandpa gave a lot of us life to the US Navy, as the captain of a submarine. He was an optics major in college. He was an amazing photographer! I have so many wonderful pictures to look at from his 89 years on this planet.

Though it was extremely soggy out, it was unseasonably warm. The cherry blossoms were confused.

A Nest. Blossoms blooming. Life. Death. Seasons.

Hi Blog (Favorite Beach)

I miss this neglected blog. Sorry, audience. I take at least 1000 pictures a month, share favorite them with an audience of 5 on an iPhone app called Instagram. I like the simplicity of limited edit options. I sometimes link my instagram to my twitter feed. Note: emilyoctober has 13 followers.

I FINALLY started playing with pinterest (I was inspired to try the print-on-gray nail polish thing, seen above). I love pinterest as much as someone who loves pictures and physical objects and ideas might. I don't want to get that yucky-gross-self-esteemless feeling which may develop after looking at lots of glossy magazines gives you. I try to look at things like teaching ideas and pretty natures scenes so I don't fill my mind with perfectskinnyexpensivepolished (yet probably uhappy, right?) people and stuff.

I am getting some control over working madenning hours. I went into work everyweekend and barely saw daylight last year. I am working hard to be extremely efficient with my time at my job so I have time for an enriching life. These pictures of my favorite beach need little captioning, but they prove I have had made time for beautiful things in my life outside of my job.